PROMISE

"Seeing His Reaction..."

"Oi! Lucy!" Sting and Natsu called out in unison. Lucy stopped in her tracks, hand on the door handle and her back facing the others. "Don't worry, I'll come back. I just need to go to the bathroom." After saying those words she turned the door handle and opened the door.

"I wonder what's wrong?" Happy wondered out loud.

"I-I'm sorry" Lucy said as she bumped into the waiter, but not really letting him see her face.

~IN THE BATHROOM...

'What's wrong with me?' Lucy thought as she washed her face with water. 'I shouldn't have let that song get into me like that!' she scolded herself as a shard of memory came into her mind.

It was the day that they were going to leave. She waited for minutes for Natsu at their hideout. Minutes passed and still no Natsu, but she couldn't wait any longer for him, it was time to leave so she left a gift wrapped with colorful wrapper and curly ribbons on their hiding place, hoping that Natsu would really come and find it. After leaving their secret place, she went and sat at the back of their car which was ready to leave. As the car started running and passed through familiar roads she would one day forget, but as they passed through the most memorable place for her, she saw a hint of pink in the corner of her eyes. She saw Natsu running in the direction that led to their house. She demanded the car to stop and it did, but when she went out of the car, Natsu was nowhere to be found. 'Damn, just how fast can he run?' Lucy thought as she went back into the car, blinking back tears that threatened to fall anytime soon.

'Well, I should go back now before they start worrying' She thought as she washed her tear-streaked face and smiled at the reflection before her.

~BACK AT THE ROOM...

"Here's your order. Where shall I place them?" The waiter asked.

"Oh, just leave it there" Erza replied as she pointed on the table nearest to the waiter.

The waiter left their orders on the table and left.

Happy was singing a song related to fish when the door opened again.

"So, what did I miss?" Lucy asked as cheerfully as she could, as she took a seat beside Sting.

"Not much...our food's here" Sting replied and handed her the Strawberry cake that she ordered. The rest also started digging on their foods while taking turns in singing.

After taking another bite from her stawberry cake, Lucy turned to Sting and asked, "How does that shake taste like?"

"You want to know?" Sting asked back.

"Yup" Lucy nodded.

"Taste it!" Sting replied, handing her his drink.

"Are you sure?" Lucy asked with a doubtful look.

"Why not?" Sting replied then Lucy took a sip from his drink.

"Hmm. It's so deicious!" Lucy exclaimed after taking a sip from Sting's drink.

"Wanna sing with me?" Natsu asked the girl sitting beside him.

"Sure, why not?" Lisanna replied.

"He liiikkkeeesss her!!!" Happy exclaimed in a teasing manner while stiffling in a laugh. This statement made Natsu and Lisanna's cheeks turn into a bright shade of pink.  They both quickly turn away and start singing in a fast-paced tune.

"Ne, ne, Sting-kun? Are you alright? You don't seem to look like you're having any fun at all!" Lucy said while turning her head to face Sting.

Lucy had a point, all the rest seemed to be having fun...

Happy and Lector were laughing while talking with each other.

Gray and Juvia seemed to enjoy each other's company.

Erza, Natsu, and Lisanna were dancing and singing happily together.

Every one of them were having fun. Everyone, but Sting.

"Really?" Sting asked and saw cake crumbs on Lucy's left cheek before continuing, "Hey Lucy, you have something on your cheek."

"Eh? Where is it?" Lucy asked, obviously embarrassed. Then, something came into Sting's mind.

"Here, let me get it for you" Sting said as he held Lucy's chinand started leaning forward.

"S-Sting-kun?" Lucy asked, her cheeks bright red from embarrassment.

"Just stay still" Sting commanded before licking the cake crumbs off from Lucy's cheeks, while sparing a sideway glance at Natsu who was NOT smiling.

"Y-you could have told me where it was, and I could h-have removed it myself" Lucy sais frantically, her face red as a tomato.

Sting chuckled before saying, "You're also cute when you're embarrassed Lucy. Don't worry about it, it's not like it was a kiss" He gave her a smile , and she returned it.

Lisanna, noticing that Natsu has been staring at Lucy and Sting for quite some time now, puffed her cheeks.

'If he likes her like that, then why not tell her? Obviously he's known her longer than him (Sting) which likely means that he knows her better.' Lisanna thought.

After some time, the group decided to call it a night and went their separate ways... [Gray with Juvia; Lisanna and Erza; Sting and Lector]

After everyone else had left, Natsu was also about to leave then, when...

"Ne, Lucy?" Happy asked.

"Yes?" Lucy turned to face the blue exceed.

"Where do you live now?" the cat asked yet again.

"Huh? Well, anyway, I rent a room at an apartment by the river. Why'd you ask? Do you want to sneak up on me or something?" Lucy asked in a teasing voice. Then Happy flew and whispered something on her ear, making her blush.

"B-but!" Lucy tried to protest.

"Ah~ Ne, Natsu! Lucy said she's scared to go home alone!"

"H-Happy!" Lucy whisper-shouted to Happy just before Natsu came closer.

__________________________________________________________________________

"I wonder if those two are walking together right now...Don't you think so Erza?" Lisanna asked.

"Yeah. They both seem to like each other..." the red-head replied, which earned her a grin from the other girl.